EAG shares almost double in London on bid fever

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - Shares of semiconductor and solar panel materials tester EAG Ltd (EAG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) almost doubled in value on Friday after two companies said they were keen on buying the firm.

Investment firm EAG Inc (EAGI), formed by Odyssey Investment Partners, earlier Friday announced plans to make a cash offer for all of EAG at 110 pence in cash, valuing the company at about 73.4 million pounds ($146.2 million).

Shares of EAG almost doubled, rising 92 percent to beyond the EAGI offer price, to stand at 115 pence at 1247 GMT, after U.S. firm SVTC Technologies subsequently said it was considering a cash counteroffer for EAG.

Still, SVTC, a California-based semiconductor services firm, said its announcement "does not amount to a firm intention to make an offer ... and there can be no certainty that an offer for EAG will be made by SVTC." (Reporting by Hsu Chuang Khoo; Editing by Paul Bolding)